By Dr. Dwight McKenna, Orleans Parish Coroner Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, commonly known as COPD, is a progressive lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. It is both preventable and treatable, yet it remains a significant cause of illness and death nationwide. COPD causes persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. Unlike asthma, which often Read More

Heart failure is a serious medical condition that affects millions of Americans. Despite its name, heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working. It means the heart is not pumping blood as effectively as it should. Heart failure is a syndrome caused by dysfunction of the heart’s ventricles, the chambers responsible for pumping Read More

As your Coroner, I want to share important new findings about the use of daily low-dose aspirin in older adults. A large clinical trial has shown that taking aspirin every day does not prevent stroke in otherwise healthy elderly individuals. In fact, the research revealed that aspirin increased the risk of dangerous bleeding in the Read More

The latest findings from the Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey are deeply concerning: marijuana use, hallucinogen consumption, vaping, and binge drinking are at all-time highs among American adults—and it’s not just teens we need to worry about. The national study shows record-setting levels of drug and alcohol use across both young adults (ages 19–30) and Read More

Measles is making a comeback — and it’s something we need to take seriously. It’s one of the most contagious diseases in the world, spreading through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Just being in the same room with someone who has measles can infect 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people. Why Read More

You may be surprised to know that today the maximum human lifespan is estimated at somewhere between 115 and 120 years. For instance Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, is believed to be the oldest person who ever lived. She died in 1997 at 122 years old. Experts say, preserving the health of people in their 80’s, 90’s Read More

The immune system is your defense against infections caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites. It also protects your healthy cells from cancer by identifying and then destroying abnormal cells. Our immune system is active 24 hours a day all year long. But as we age, it’s not as strong as when we were younger. Not Read More

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, itchy, inflammatory skin condition that usually affects the face, neck, arms and legs, but usually spares the groin region. It usually starts in early infancy, but also affects some adults. Extreme weather events due to climate change, including floods and wildfires are implicated in cutaneous injuries, skin infections and Read More

New Orleans Coroner, Dr. Dwight McKenna, says research shows preschoolers who watch violent television are more likely to have emotional and behavioral issues at the age of 12, according to current research and investigators. These findings align with previous studies that have shown the negative effects of watching violent content, reinforcing the importance of restricting Read More

In 2023, there were (523) accidental drug deaths in New Orleans, compared to (499) in 2022. In 2023, (395) 75% were male, and (129) 25% were female, similar to previous years. In 2023, (299) 57% were black, (187) 35% were white, (26) 5% were hispanic, (3) 1% were asian, and (9) 2% were other/unknown. In Read More